Netflix not interested in live sports

[TMC]

https://www.adweek.com/lostremote/te...ofit.%E2%80%9D

“We've not seen a profit path to renting big sports,” said Sarandos at the UBS Global TMT Conference. He noted the company isn't saying “there will never be” live sports on Netflix, but “dramatically expensive” rights have made sports a “loss leader.” He clarified, “We're not anti-sports, we're just pro-profit.”

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by TMC

https://www.adweek.com/lostremote/te...ofit.%E2%80%9D

“We've not seen a profit path to renting big sports,” said Sarandos at the UBS Global TMT Conference. He noted the company isn't saying “there will never be” live sports on Netflix, but “dramatically expensive” rights have made sports a “loss leader.” He clarified, “We're not anti-sports, we're just pro-profit.”

Netflix is on the right side of this one. The NFL product has to be addressed separately, but throwing billions at the NBA, NHL, MLB is not a loss leader, it's just a loss period. Sports is one of the main reasons people cut the cord in the first place. The programming is expensive from right fees to production costs, and those costs are passed to the subscribers. Up to 40% of the cable bill represented costs for sports programming. Charter is now acknowledging this by offering a level a service without expensive RSN's. I don't believe companies will drive subscriber growth depending on additional sports content, the NBA finals, the World Series may hold some promise but not at the price the leagues want.

The NFL has to be evaluated separately; I do think there are limits but having exclusive rights to NFL playoff games might be worth a look, it depends on the cost and what games are covered.